Assisted Living near Salt Lake City, UT

Assisted Living in Salt Lake City, UT

What Is Assisted Living?

Assisted living is a form of long-term care. Basically, it is independent living with a little help. The services provided in assisted living housing vary from location to location, but generally, residents receive help with activities of daily living, such as meals, bathing and dressing as well as medication management and transportation. Residents don't receive 24/7 care, and they maintain a certain level of independence regarding their activities.

What Is Senior Living Like in Salt Lake City, UT?

In Salt Lake City, seniors have a lot of options for recreation. It is home to the headquarters of the Mormon church and the Mormon Tabernacle as well as the restored home of Brigham Young. Residents can also explore historic Fort Douglas and an operational pioneer community at This Is The Place Heritage Park.

Cultural activities include the Utah Symphony, Utah Opera and Ballet West. Theatres including the Desert Star Playhouse, Hale Center Theater, Off Broadway Theatre and Promised Valley Playhouse, offer regular shows of great variety. Museums of all types abound in Salt Lake City, as well. From hockey to soccer to basketball, there is bound to be a sport to suit your loved one's taste.

What Are the Signs It's Time for Assisted Living?

Many people wonder how to tell when a loved one is ready for assisted living. You may be surprised to know that there are signs to look for in the person being cared for, and signs to look for in the caregiver. When considering moving a loved one to assisted living, consider these factors:

• Agitation: This is common with dementia. If it gets to the point where the caregiver suffers or resents the individual, consider assisted living.
• Sundowners Syndrome: This is one symptom of Alzheimer's. If the person being cared for is getting increasingly agitated in late afternoon or evening, they may need more care than you can provide at home.
• Wandering: Individuals with dementia are prone to wandering off which increases their chance of injuring themselves.
• Home Safety: If you're concerned that the individual isn't safe in their own home (maybe they left a stove burner on or something similar), it could be time to think about assisted living.

When caregivers find themselves experiencing the following symptoms, they may want to consider moving their loved one to an assisted living facility.

• Disabling anxiety
• Hyper-vigilance
• Avoidance behaviors
• Intrusive thoughts
• Anger
• Resentment
• Sleep deprivation

There will probably come a time when your loved one simply needs more help than you can give them. This is when you need to consider that assisted living may be the best thing for you and your loved one.

What Are ADLs and IADLs?

ADL stands for Activities of Daily Living and IADL stands for Instrumental Activities of Daily Living. Both are used to measure a person's ability to manage basic and complex needs. An individual's ability to complete the tasks is a way of assessing the person's overall health and functionality.

ADLs include these six essential skills:

1. Bathing and Showering completely with very minimal assistance (washing hair, for example)
2. Dressing
3. Self-Feeding
4. Functional Mobility
5. Continence (complete control of bowels and bladder)
6. Toileting (getting on and off the toilet and cleaning self)

IADLs are more complex activities that include the following:

• Cleaning/housekeeping
• Medication management
• Shopping
• Using communication devices (phone/computer)
• Laundry
• Money management
• Transportation

These assessments often provide healthcare providers with the first signs that a person is experiencing diminished functionality. Someone showing a decline in IADL performance could be experiencing the early stages of cognitive impairment.

What Services Are Available?

Each facility offers different services, but here some services that may be offered:

• Indoor and outdoor common areas
• Resident parking area
• Onsite and offsite activities
• Onsite beautician/barber
• Visiting Podiatrist
• Visiting Speech Therapist
• Visiting Nurse
• Visiting Occupational Therapist
• Onsite and offsite devotional services
• Pets allowed
• Vegetarian meals
• Hospice care

How Much Does Assisted Living Cost in Salt Lake City, UT?

The prices of assisted living facilities vary based on size, amenities and so forth. In general, you can expect room costs ranging from $1795 to $9120. Our findings show that, on average, assisted living costs are $3,932 in the city; $4,037 in the metro; and $3,923 statewide.

How Can I Understand Assisted Living Costs?

There are many factors that figure into assisted living costs. Rates vary depending on:

• The type of residence
• Types of service
• Location in the community
• Size of apartment (studio, 1-bed, 2-bed, etc.)
• Level of luxury

In some cases, a flat fee is charged for basic services with any extra or special services requiring an additional fee. Other facilities offer a la carte pricing where the resident only pays for the services they need or want. Sometimes there are entrance fees and deposits, too, and these can vary by community as well.

Assisted Living Inspections and Ratings in Salt Lake City, UT

As you research assisted living, it's important to know about state inspections and ratings for assisted living communities. Public access to inspection information and other records varies significantly from state to state. A Place for Mom uses a rating system based on objective criteria that includes 14 standard questions. Based on the responses to these questions, we have given Utah a "Basic" rating. Here's what you need to know about the transparency of assisted living records in Utah:

1. Mandatory inspections of assisted living facilities occur once every three years
2. There is no information on complaints, survey results or inspections available to consumers online

General information on Utah assisted living facilities can be found on the State of Utah page Health Facility Information.

How Do I Find the Right Assisted Living Facility?

The more research you do, the easier the decision becomes. Selecting an assisted living facility is life-changing for both the caregiver and their loved one, so we offer "Planning and Advice" guides to help you along every step in the process. However, it's just as important to know what not to do, so here are some common mistakes and how to avoid making them.

• Mistake #1: Choosing a community that matches your taste instead of your loved one's tastes. Remember, you're not the one who'll be living there, they are. Have them visit the facility with you and give proper credence to their preferences.
• Mistake #2: Choosing a community that isn't appropriate to your loved one's current needs. It's important to select a community that fits who they are now, not who they used to be. Be honest with yourself about what they need and what their capabilities are, and select a facility appropriate to those needs and capabilities.
• Mistake #3: Doing it by yourself. Choosing an assisted living community is a big decision that affects more than just you. Take your time and get the perspectives of other family members and friends, especially those who've been through the process before. Consult your loved one's healthcare team and a Senior Living advisor for additional help.
• Mistake #4: Judging a book by its cover. Don't assume that a big price tag equals quality care or that a lower cost equals poor care. During visits, take time to speak privately with staff and residents to see if they are satisfied with the community. Happy staff and happy residents are a good sign that a facility is providing quality care.
• Mistake #5: Making a rushed decision. Take your time to fully vet the facilities you're loved one is interested in. Visit several places, at least three, for comparison and note the similarities and differences. Don’t get in a hurry because you could make a wrong choice and end up repeating the process all over again.
• Mistake #6: Being unrealistic about future needs. While the facility you choose should meet your loved one's current care needs, you also need to consider their future needs. For example, if your loved one is showing early signs of dementia, you'll want to consider facilities that also offer the next level of care. This can eliminate the need to move your loved one to another facility in the future.
• Mistake #7: Not reading the fine print. There is so much to consider in the process of choosing an assisted living facility that once a decision has been made, people rush to sign on the dotted line. We understand that you just want to be done, but now is the time to take a step back and really read the contract to make sure you understand what you're signing up for. If anything in the contract concerns you, take it to an attorney.
• Mistake #8: Putting too much emphasis on proximity. It would be great to have your loved one close by so you could just drop in after work, however, that may not be the best option. If a different community a few miles further away is a better fit for mom or dad, then that's where they should go. Don't let what's most convenient for you interfere with what's best for your loved one.

How Do I Make the Right Choice?

A Place for Mom is dedicated to helping you find an assisted living facility that meets your loved one's current and future needs. Whether it's mom, dad, brother, sister, aunt, uncle or anyone searching for a place to care for a loved one, A Place for Mom is here for you.

We have 400 Senior Living Advisors across the United States and Canada ready to answer all your questions and give advice. Contact one of our advisors for a free consultation, and they will help your loved one transition to his or her new home.